What helps you instantly feel better?

[Coffeeehelps]

I'm depressed and stressed. I've contacted my GP. I'm on meds and I'll be re-refering for more therapy. I've just had something to eat. I've put on a load of laundry. I'm barely functioning right now though and on the verge of a full mental breakdown.

So, can I ask, what helps you instantly feel better when everything - even the little things - seems hopeless?

A long soak in a bath listening to music or a book.
A long, hot shower with a face mask on afterwards.
Clean hair
Clean bed linen.
Getting under heated blanket and reading or watching a good programme.
Making a hearty, healthy soup with cheese scones.
I also like to go to the cinema or theatre by myself.

I thought this was a kind of four line haiku at first!

@Calliopespa it nearly is. I graduated in 1994 with a BA hons in English Lit. I have never done anything with it.
Maybe this is my moment😁

A frothy coffee and a cigarette. I appreciate you're probably not a smoker though 😅

Splashing your face with cold water
Box breathing
Shaking your whole body, like a dog. All of it, from your fingers to your toes
Humming along to Classic FM humming is the best way to reset your vegus nerve)

Something that’s helped me is comforting smells that i associate with happy times in my life.

I had a bottle of infacare baby bath wash and I will run myself a bath and use it. I find it’s very comforting. I also have a bottle of my grans perfume that I spritz onto a pillow of mine and lay my head on. I’m straight back to being a kid having a cuddle up while she watches the tv.

Lots of suggestions and I hope you do feel better soon. Do you take a vitamin supplement? I never had and then a blood test said I was deficient in D3 and honestly I feel 100 times better. Just overall better, my anxious thoughts decreased and I slept better and my general confusion and malaise lifted.

these are the ones I was given: https://lloydspharmacy.com/products/solis-d3-50-000iu-tablets

Mini daffodils

Thank you for this. This is such underrated advice but it makes so much sense.

Yes it is very true. Being hydrated does make you feel better, and often people develop utis in times of stress, in part because they DO forget to drink sufficient water when under pressure.

I don't even know what the word 'guddle' means, but it made me think of fussing and flapping and being 'busy' and it made me smile!

Sorry it is a scottish word means messy my scots sometimes slips out 😀 it can also mean if you are a bit all over the place

It is a wonderful word! I now need to work it into my vocabulary...

Do it. Just drop it in 😀

@amibeingaknob

But walking does help some people. Like me.

Isn’t this what this thread is about - suggestions?

I like to accomplish a small repair, something that came undone, a stitch, a button, a stain - similar I guess to tidying a small area as pp mentioned.

A really tough exercise class followed by sauna and everything shower.

sitting in a comfy chair in a caf with a good book and no agenda or nowhere to be

cancelled work calls

cooking, especially when trying new recipes

A ten minute You tube dance video - just discovered them!

OP replied to say walking wasn’t a possibility for her right now.

I do think the suggestions need to be bearing in mind that the OP is struggling with depression and won’t have the energy to do lots of the things suggested on here. So many people
keep saying ‘go for a walk’ I can imagine if you can’t then that becomes annoying and a bit tone deaf.

There’s been lots of good, easier suggestions.

And I am sure that the OP can pick for herself what the eaiser or more manageable suggestions for her are.

I don’t think it’s for you to police people’s suggestions. Everyone who has replied is trying to help.

And that’s perfectly okay it didn’t work for you, that’s why there are so many different suggestions. Personally a walk helps me every time and I’m deep in depression from losing my daughter.

Cup of tea in the sunshine in the garden. If the weather is crap blasting out some good music and building lego. Sending hugs op x

I hope you were able to do some of the things you were thinking of doing yesterday @Coffeeehelps
If there is any sunshine where you are today and you have some outside space, would you be able to sit out there, wrapped up if the wind is anything like it is here today, and just have a cup of coffee or tea or whatever your prefer out there? I know this can help me, and if you aren't up to going for a walk then this might be enough for a bit of a change and listen to the birds with a bit of warmth on your face

A good audible book while I do the gardening.

I’m not policing. OP has said she doesn’t feel like she can go for a walk. So why suggest she goes for a
walk?! It’s important to read her posts.